Announcements

At the moment, as will be abundantly obvious, 5:4 is experiencing some display issues. This appears to have stemmed from a plugin that earlier today wrought a bit of havoc under the hood, in the process messing up the visual theme i’ve been using. Having been inaccessible for a short …

First thing this morning i’m setting off for Oslo to catch the last few days of this year’s Ultima Festival. Words galore to follow in due course.

i was deeply saddened to receive a message around an hour ago, with the news that composer Gloria Coates has died. i only began to spend significant time with Gloria’s work last year, when it finally dawned on me just how fascinating and remarkable it is. This led to my …

i’m heading off today to Salzburg for a week’s vacation. For once, the trip will be essentially work-free, though i will be catching the performance of Messiaen’s Éclairs sur l’Au-Delà… at the Salzburg Festival while i’m there; words to follow once i’m back.

My annual pilgrimage to Eesti Muusika Paevad, the Estonian Music Days, begins today. i’ll be in Tallinn for the next ten days, immersing myself in all the goings-on, and all being well i’ll also be recording a new 5:4 Dialogue while i’m there. Words aplenty once i get back.

For those of you who still retain an interest – or even a smattering of excitement – for what the Proms festival has to offer, here’s a summary of the contemporary music that’ll be served up this year. No comment from me, except to say that, having explored all of …

i’m setting off today for the city of Trondheim, to experience the delights of this year’s Only Connect festival. Oodles of words to come once i get back next week.

This morning i’m setting for a few days in the Swiss Alps, checking out the long-delayed Forum Wallis festival in Leuk. The Lent Series will continue while i’m away, and i’ll be reporting on the (in all likelihood, weird and wonderful) goings-on in Switzerland once i’m back next week.

This morning i’m setting off for a week in Reykjavík, to experience all that’s going on during this year’s Myrkir músíkdagar, aka Dark Music Days. In my absence there’s a bit more free music to be explored, and there’ll be words galore when i get back from Iceland.

This afternoon i’m heading north for a few days to experience some of this year’s Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. Words in abundance once i return next week.

i’m heading off to Norway this morning to catch a few days of this year’s Ultima festival in Oslo. Words aplenty to follow once i get back next week.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the final two concerts of this year’s Proms season have been cancelled as a mark of respect. Therefore, the last of this year’s planned new works, James B. Wilson‘s 1922, will not now take place, effectively bringing to an end my coverage of …

i’m heading off to Birmingham this evening, to savour the next few days’ acousmatic delights and disorientation at the BEAST FEaST festival. Words to follow once i’m back next week.

It’s no fewer than 40 years since the formation of BEAST – Birmingham ElectroAcoustic Sound Theatre, one of the leading organisations pioneering the creation and presentation of electronic music. To celebrate this milestone, next week Birmingham University will be hosting BEAST FEaST 2022, a four-day extravaganza of concerts, installations and …

This year’s Proms season has been announced in the last few days, and alongside all the standard fare, there’s the usual small smattering of contemporary music to get mildly excited about. Scanning through the programme, the most immediate thing that leapt out was familiarity, even predictability, the festival in general …

This morning i’m setting off for Tallinn, to explore the eclectic shenanigans at this year’s Estonian Music Days. Words to follow once i’m back later next week.

i’m setting off this morning for Bergen, to attend Norway’s most discombobulating new music festival Borealis. Words to follow once i get back next week – and once i’ve begun to figure out what on earth i experienced.

This morning i’m setting off for a week and a bit in Iceland, attending the Dark Music Days festival. In my absence – starting on Wednesday – this year’s Lent Series will begin (so only half a fermata this time); words to follow about all the goings-on in Reykjavík once …

It’s tempting to hope that 2022 might finally bring an end to the widespread disruption that has plagued concerts and festivals for the last two years. With that optimism in mind, there are some interesting events to look forward to in the coming weeks.

Having not set foot in the place for two years – which by now feels like an absolute aeon – i’m setting off today for the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, where i’ll (hopefully) be happily immersed for the next few days. Words to follow once i get back next week.